Strip for fixing a web of flexible material onto a support

ABSTRACT

The fixing strip is composed of a sole 7 intended to be fixed by its reverse, flat on the said support 2, whilst its front is provided, on the one hand, along one of its edge, over a fraction only of the width of the said sole, with a multitude of filiform elements for hooking with a corresponding part of the looped, fluffy, downy, springy, padded, cellular or similar reverse of the material, and, on the other hand, over the other fraction of the width of the sole, along its other edge, with a continuous small tongue arranged in a plane parallel to that of the sole and whose free longitudinal edge is substantially facing the corresponding edge of the sole, the said small tongue leaving, between it and the front of the sole, a small gap into which the marginal portion of the web fixed on the said strip may be folded back.

United States Patent Billarant, deceased [45 Apr. 25, 1972 154] STRIP FOR FIXING A WEB OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ONTO A SUPPORT [72] inventor: Jean Billarant, deceased, late of Nogent sul' Marne. France by Solungc F. (i. Soulard Widow Billarant, Administratrix [73] Assignec: Velcro France, Paris, France [22] Filed: May 19, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 38,840

[31)] Foreign Application Priority Data May 21, 1969 Luxembourg ..58,699

[52] U.S. Cl ..52/222, 24/204, 52/461,

[51} Int. Cl ..E04b 2/72 [58] Field ofSearch ..52/222,461,582, 587,462,

52/463, 468, 461, 464, 716, 718, 631, 63, 273, 497, 273, 497, 509, 738; 24/DlG. 18, 204; 297/DlG 6; 160/327 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,417 8/1930 Ellingwood ..52/46l Primary Examiner-Alfred C. Perham A tt0rneyOstrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen 1 ABSTRACT The fixing strip is composed ofa sole 7 intended to be fixed by its reverse, flat on the said support 2, whilst its front is pro vided, on the one hand, along one of its edge, over a fraction only of the width of the said sole, with a multitude of filiform elements for hooking with a corresponding part of the looped, fluffy, downy, springy, padded, cellular or similar reverse of the material, and, on the other hand, over the other fraction of the width of the sole, along its other edge, with a continuous small tongue arranged in a plane parallel to that of the sole and whose free longitudinal edge is substantially facing the corresponding edge of the sole, the said small tongue leaving, between it and the front of the sole, a small gap into which the marginal portion of the web fixed on the said strip may be folded back.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEmms m2 3,657, 850

I ullllllulm llullunml HIHHIIIH' HIIIHHIIIII IIIIIHIHIHI 1-7.2 Has L L 'IIVIIIIIII IIIlII/IIIIII/III IIIII 'IIIIIIIII IIIIIII/IIIIl/III STRIP FOR FIXING A WEB OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ONTO A SUPPORT The present invention relates to the invisible fixing of webs of flexible materials onto a support, more especially onto a wall, for example with a view to achieving a decorative lining and acoustic insulation.

Meant here by web of flexible material is any supple web of the most varied materials, woven or non-woven, of natural, artificial or synthetic textile fibres or even, for example, a plastic material of more or less thick sheeting, possibly also decorated, on one or both of its faces, with other supple materials.

A convenient method which can be used to this end consists in fixing onto the wall, for example by gluing, strips whose front is provided with a multitude of filiform elements for hooking with a corresponding part of the looped, fluffy, downy, soft, felted, cellular or similar reverse of the material that is to be fixed. However, the precise juxtaposition of the edges of the webs presents a certain difficulty if one wishes it to be invisible, and no run the risk of having extra thicknesses in certain places.

The present invention relates to a part for fixing the webs of material which precisely permits this problem to be solved easily, assuring a perfect juxtaposition of the rectilinear edges of two adjacent webs, possibly ornamented with a decorative fillet.

The object of the invention is thus a structure for fixing a web of flexible material onto a support, more especially onto a wall, composed of a strip formed from a sole intended to be fixed, by its reverse, flat on the said support, whilst its front is provided, on the one hand, along one of its edges, over a fraction of the width of the said sole, with a multitude of filiform elements for hooking with a corresponding part of the looped, fluffy, downy, springy, padded, cellular or similar reverse of the material, and on the other hand, over the other fraction of the width of the sole, along its other edge, with a continuous small tongue arranged in a plane parallel to that of the sole and the free longitudinal edge of which is substantially facing the corresponding edge of the sole, the said small tongue leavin g, between it and the front of the sole, a small gap into which one can fold back the marginal portion of the web fixed on the said strip.

Thanks to the special structure of this fixing strip, one conceives that the edge of the part of material fixed fiat on the filiform hooking elements can be folded back and threaded under the small tongue of the said strip in such a way as to form a perfectly neat rectilinear edge. This material edge can, for example, be in the angle ofa wall or along the fillister ofa door.

If a second web has to be juxtaposed with the first, one can obviously glue a second fixing strip along the first, but it is preferable to use, for fixing the edges of the two webs, a common strip derived from that which has just been defined and which, in accordance with another feature of the invention, possesses a sole which has, on the side of its part covered by the small tongue, a width supplement also provided on its front with filiform hooking elements, so that one can then successively fold back the edges of the two webs of material between the small tongue and the sole.

For positioning the two juxtaposed webs, one can still advantageously use a fixing strip variation in which the extra width of the sole also carries a small tongue whose edge is situated at a short distance from the edge of the first small tongue, in such a way that the whole of the fixing strip is symmetrical in relation to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the sole and equidistant from the edges of the two small tongues. In these conditions, it is possible for one to fold back the edge of each of the two webs of material under the small tongue of the part of the fixing strip onto which it is hooked.

When use is made of fixing strips in conformity with the definitions which have just been given above, the webs of material are secured with their edges perfectly juxtaposed and practically invisible, particularly when the webs are made of a slightly fluffy material.

If the material has a smooth front and more especially, for example, if it is a complex whose front is made of plastic material, or even simply for decorative purpose, it may be preferable to indicate clearly, on the contrary, the separation of the webs, that is to say, in accordance with another feature of the invention, the double fixing strip, such as has just been defined lastly, can be provided with a removable fillet having a cross-section substantially in the shape of a 'I" whose median leg, slipped between the edges of the two small tongues, ends in a bulge imprisoned in the gap between the sole and the said small tongues, whilst the two parts of the transverse branch of the T are intended to cover the portions of the webs applied to the small tongues.

In these conditions, the edges of the webs may be either folded back under the small tongues, or placed in such a way that they terminate respectively flush with the edges of the said small tongues, since they are then covered by the fillet.

The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, and by examining the attached drawings, which show, by way of non-restrictive examples, several embodiments of strips for fixing webs of material in accordance with the invention.

In these drawings FIG. 1 represents, with portions broken away, a part of two webs of flexible material fixed onto a wall by means of a strip in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial horizontal section made along the line II- II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and shows a variation of use of the same double fixing strip.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a variation of a double fixing strip.

FIG. 5 and 6 show, in section, two other variations of use of the double fixing strip of FIG. 2, in combination with a fillet and FIG. 7 shows a single strip derived from the part of FIG. 2.

The double strip indicated as a whole by 1 in FIG. 1 and 2 is intended to ensure the fixing, onto a wall 2, of the juxtaposed marginal parts of two webs of flexible material 3, 4, whose reverse is looped, fluffy, downy, springy, padded, cellular or the like. 5 designates, for example, a plinth.

The double fixing strip 1, for example wholly of plastic material, such as nylon, is made up of a sole 7 intended to be fixed, by its reverse, flat on the wall 2, for example by gluing or stapling.

The sole 7 is provided, along each of its two edges, over a fraction only of half of its width, with a multitude of filiform hooking elements 8, composed, for example, of small hooks. The remainder of the width of each half of the sole is provided with a continuous small tongue 11 arranged in a plane parallel to that of the sole and whose free longitudinal edge is substantially facing the longitudinal axis of the sole. This small tongue 11 leaves a small gap 12 between it and the front of the sole 7.

The marginal parts of the two webs of decorative material 3 and 4 are applied, by their reverse, flat on the parts of the strip 1 which is provided with filiform hooking elements 8 which are anchored in the reverse of the said material and keep it in place.

The edges 3A and 4A of the two webs are threaded into the gap between the lips of the two tongues 11 and they are folded back individually under these two small tongues respectively. There is, thus obtained a perfectly neat positioning of the webs whose edges are practically invisible.

The other parts of the two webs of material 3 and 4 are fixed onto the wall 2 by means of strips likewise provided with filiform elements, but of a more simple structure, since they do not need to possess small tongues.

By way of a mounting variation, one can use the fixing strip 1 as represented in FIG. 3, that is to say by slipping the edges 3A and 4A of the two webs, both under the same small tongue 11.

In FIG. 4 there has been represented a fixing strip 21 which is a variation of that of FIG. 3 and which is used in the same way. It differs therefrom in that it comprises only a single small tongue 11 under which are slipped the edges of the two webs, and in that it is, in consequence, a little narrower and of a lower cost price. The partition 22 which supported the omitted small tongue has been retained in order that the conspicuous edges of the two webs can be properly placed edge to edge and at the same level.

Instead of making the junction between the webs invisible, one can, as a contrast, try to indicate it clearly by a decorative element. That is what has been represented in FIG. 5, which differs from FIG. 2 only by the presence of a profiled decorative fillet 25 of a cross-section which is substantially in the shape of a T," the median leg 26 of which, slipped between the edges of the two small tongues 11, ends in a bulge 27 imprisoned in the gap between the sole and the said small tongues, whilst the two parts of the transverse branch 28 of the T" cover the edges of the webs 3 and 4 applied to the two small tongues 11. I

The positioning represented in FIG. 6 differs from that of FIG. only in that the edges 3A and 4A of the two webs are not tucked in under the two small tongues, but merely placed flat on these latter and covered by the two wings of the transverse branch 28 of the fillet possibly of a greater width.

When two webs are not juxtaposed, that is to say for example when the edge of one web is in the angle of a wall or even against an ornamental moulding of a door or something else, it is preferable to use a fixing strip which is made up only of half the fixing strip represented in FIG. 1 and 2 for example, that is to say that its sole 7 (FIG. 7) comprises only a single zone covered with filiform hooking elements 8 and a single small tongue 11 under which the edge 4A of the web of material is folded back.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, which have been given by way of examples, and one can make modifications thereto, according to the applications contemplated, without departing, therefor, from the scope of the invention.

Thus, for example, the fixing strips can be made of any appropriate material, for example of extruded or folded metal, and the filiform fixing elements could also be of materials other than a thermoplastic material, for example of steel wire.

Moreover, the filiform hooking elements are not necessarily in the form of hooks, and they can, for example, be composed of small rectilinear elements ending in a bulge, for example of substantially spherical shape.

What is claimed is:

1. A strip for fixing a web of flexible material onto a support, said strip comprising:

a sole; said sole having a reverse surface which is affixable to the support; said sole having a front surface defined between two opposite longitudinal edges of said sole;

on a section of said sole extending along and inward from one said longitudinal edge and across said front surface at least part way toward the other said longitudinal edge, said front surface is covered with a multitude of filiform elements for hookingly engaging cooperating filiform elements on the web of flexible material;

a tongue secured to said sole and extending over said sole front surface from a location part way inward from said sole front surface first longitudinal edge to a free longitudinal edge of said tongue that is further from said front surface first longitudinal edge than the point of securement of said tongue to said sole; said tongue being spaced away from and being in opposed relationship to said sole front surface, whereby said tongue defines with said sole front surface a small gap into which the marginal portion of the hookingly engaged web material may be inserted.

2. In combination with the strip of claim 1,

a web of flexible material which has a marginal portion that is wrapped about said tongue free end and that terminates in a marginal edge positioned in said gap between said tongue and said sole first surface; said web having a first section with an inwardly facing surface that is covered with a cooperating multitude of hookingly engaging filiform elements to cooperate with said filiform elements on said sole first surface; said web first section being opposite said filiform elements on said sole first surface to facilitate engagement of the filiform elements.

3. A fixing strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said other front surface longitudinal edge is spaced further from said front surface one longitudinal edge than is said tongue free end; on a second section of said sole between said tongue free end and said front surface other longitudinal edge, said sole front surface is also provided with a second multitude of filiform elements for hookingly engaging cooperating filiform elements on a web of flexible material.

4. A fixing strip as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second multitude of filiform elements extends both along and inward from said other longitudinal edge of said sole front surface across said sole front surface at least part Way to the one said longitudinal edge;

a second small tongue secured to said sole and extending over said sole front surface from a location inward from said sole front surface other longitudinal edge to a second free longitudinal edge of said second tongue that is further from said front surface other longitudinal edge than the point of securement of said second tongue to said sole; said second tongue being spaced away from and in opposed relationship to said sole front surface, whereby said second tongue defines with said sole front surface a second small gap into which the marginal portion of a hookingly engaged web of material may be inserted.

5. A fixing strip as claimed in claim 4, wherein all elements of said strip are shaped such that said strip is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal median between said front surface longitudinal edges.

6. In combination with the strip of claim 4,

a first web of flexible material which has a marginal portion that is wrapped about at least one of said first and second free edges of the respective first and second said tongues; said first web terminates in a marginal edge position in the respective said gap between that said tongue about which it is wrapped and said sole first surface; said first web having a first section with an inwardly facing surface that is covered with a cooperating multitude of hookingly engaging filiform elements to cooperate with the first said multitude of filiform elements on said sole first surface; said first web first section being opposite said first multitude of filiform elements on said sole first surface to facilitate engagement of filiform elements.

a second web of flexible material that has a second marginal portion that is wrapped about at least one of said first and second free edges of the respective first and second said tongues; said second web terminates in a marginal edge position in the respective said gap between that said tongue about which it is wrapped and said sole first surface; said second web having a second section with an inwardly facing surface that is covered with a cooperating multitude of hookingly engaging filiform elements to cooperate with the second said multitude of filiform elements on said sole first surface; said second web second section being opposite said second multitude of filiform elements on said sole first surface to facilitate engagement of filiform elements.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said first web marginal edge is wrapped about said first tongue free edge and inserted in said first gap between said first tongue and said first surface;

and said second web marginal edge is wrapped about said second tongue free edge and is inserted in said second gap between said second tongue and said sole first surface.

8. In combination with the strip of claim 4,

a profiled removable fillet having a longitudinal cross section substantially in the form of a "T," including a median leg that is inserted between said first and said second tongue free edges and that has a bulge of a width such that it is trapped in both said gaps between said tongues and said sole front surface, and including a transverse head which covers both said tongue free edges and the marginal portions of the flexible material webs passing over said ton- 5 gue free edges. 

1. A strip for fixing a web of flexible material onto a support, said strip comprising: a sole; said sole having a reverse surface which is affixable to the support; said sole having a front surface defined between two opposite longitudinal edges of said sole; on a section of said sole extending along and inward from one said longitudinal edge and across said front surface at least part way toward the other said longitudinal edge, said front surface is covered with a multitude of filiform elements for hookingly engaging cooperating filiform elements on the web of flexible material; a tongue secured to said sole and extending over said sole front surface from a location part way inward from said sole front surface first longitudinal edge to a free longitudinal edge of said tongue that is further from said front surface first longitudinal edge than the point of securement of said tongue to said sole; said tongue being spaced away from and being in opposed relationship to said sole front surface, whereby said tongue defines with said sole front surface a small gap into which the marginal portion of the hookingly engaged web material may be inserted.
 2. In combination with the strip of claim 1, a web of flexible material which has a marginal portion that is wrapped about said tongue free end and that terminates in a marginal edge positioned in said gap between said tongue and said sole first surface; said web having a first section with an inwardly facing surface that is covered with a cooperating multitude of hookingly engaging filiform elements to cooperate with said filiform elements on said sole first surface; said web first section being opposite said filiform elements on said sole first surface to facilitate engagement of the filiform elements.
 3. A fixing strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said other front surface longitudinal edge is spaced further from said front surface one longitudinal edge than is said tongue free end; on a second section of said sole between said tongue free end and said front surface other longitudinal edge, said sole front surface is also provided with a second multitude of filiform elements for hookingly engaging cooperating filiform elements on a web of flexible material.
 4. A fixing strip as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second multitude of filiform elements extends both along and inward from said other longitudinal edge of said sole front surface across said sole front surface at least part way to the one said longitudinal edge; a second small tongue secured to said sole and extending over said sole front surface from a location inward from said sole front surface other longitudinal edge to a second free longitudinal edge of said second tongue that is further from said front surface other longitudinal edge than the point of securement of said second tongue to said sole; said second tongue being spaced away from and in opposed relationship to said sole front surface, whereby said second tongue defines with said sole front surface a second small gap into which the marginal portion of a hookingly engaged web of material may be inserted.
 5. A fixing strip as claimed in claim 4, wherein all elements of said strip are shaped such that said strip is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal median between said front surface longitudinal edges.
 6. In combination with the strip of claim 4, a first web of flexible material which has a marginal portion that is wrapped about at least one of said first and second free edges oF the respective first and second said tongues; said first web terminates in a marginal edge position in the respective said gap between that said tongue about which it is wrapped and said sole first surface; said first web having a first section with an inwardly facing surface that is covered with a cooperating multitude of hookingly engaging filiform elements to cooperate with the first said multitude of filiform elements on said sole first surface; said first web first section being opposite said first multitude of filiform elements on said sole first surface to facilitate engagement of filiform elements. a second web of flexible material that has a second marginal portion that is wrapped about at least one of said first and second free edges of the respective first and second said tongues; said second web terminates in a marginal edge position in the respective said gap between that said tongue about which it is wrapped and said sole first surface; said second web having a second section with an inwardly facing surface that is covered with a cooperating multitude of hookingly engaging filiform elements to cooperate with the second said multitude of filiform elements on said sole first surface; said second web second section being opposite said second multitude of filiform elements on said sole first surface to facilitate engagement of filiform elements.
 7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said first web marginal edge is wrapped about said first tongue free edge and inserted in said first gap between said first tongue and said first surface; and said second web marginal edge is wrapped about said second tongue free edge and is inserted in said second gap between said second tongue and said sole first surface.
 8. In combination with the strip of claim 4, a profiled removable fillet having a longitudinal cross section substantially in the form of a ''''T,'''' including a median leg that is inserted between said first and said second tongue free edges and that has a bulge of a width such that it is trapped in both said gaps between said tongues and said sole front surface, and including a transverse head which covers both said tongue free edges and the marginal portions of the flexible material webs passing over said tongue free edges. 